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    A sealed, unlabeled box sat undisturbed for decades on a shelf in the Grateful Dead’s San Rafael tape vault on Front Street, its contents an enduring mystery, even to those few with access to the vault. All David Lemieux knew about that box when he became the Dead’s archivist was that it contained tapes belonging to Bear—Owsley Stanley, the Dead’s first soundman and architect of the Wall of Sound. Even in the Dead Heads’ Holy of Holies, the taped-up box was tantalizing. But this was Bear’s personal property, and so he didn’t touch the box out of an abiding respect for the elder luminary of sound. Bear’s archive of Sonic Journal recordings had been kept safe for him for years within the Grateful Dead’s vault—over 1,300 reels of tape stored in heavy-duty cartons like old banana boxes. At any time, David could have popped the tops and explored them to his archivist heart's content. But they were off-limits without the nod from Bear. - Starfinder Stanley, Hawk, and Pete Bell, Owsley Stanley Foundation

     

    With a wink and a nod from Bear, we've peeled back those banana boxes to find some of the oldest and rarest of all recordings of the Dead including the double dose of shows that make up DAVE’S PICKS VOLUME 43. The two virtually complete performances from San Francisco 11/2/69, Live At Family Dog At The Great Highway, and from Dallas 12/26/69, McFarlin Auditorium, are complementary in their clarity and consistency thanks to Bear himself, and in their ability to foreshadow where the Dead were headed in the years to come. If the two killer 20-minute+ "Dark Stars" don't get ya, how about the Pigpen-centric sets featuring "Midnight Hour," "Next Time You See Me," "Big Boss Man," "Good Lovin'," and the once-lost-now-found complete rendition of "Dancing In The Streets," or the first full acoustic set ever performed? And we're certain you'll be fascinated to uncover the "Mystery Of Bear's Banana Boxes" as told by Starfinder Stanley, Hawk, and Pete Bell in the liners.

     

    Limited to 25,000 numbered copies, DAVE’S PICKS VOLUME 43 was recorded by Owlsey "Bear" Stanley and has been mastered to HDCD specs by Jeffrey Norman at Mockingbird Mastering. Grab a copy while you can.

     

    *2 per order. Very limited quantity available.

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  • Dennis
    Joined:
    Mike and my youth

    I'm from Jersey, you might know an Eye-talian or two. Funny thing, though the big whine there is "not all Italians are in the mafia",,,, but all Italians tell you about their Uncle who is connected!

    My one buddy, Johnny the Nose, his uncle specialized in weed and fireworks. Yes, fireworks. Illegal in NY/NJ, but Johnny boy would sell massive amounts for his Uncle (his Italian Uncle). When I was very young and shining shoes in bars, there was "Harry the Horse", had trunk loads of "stuff" all the time. Always had a load of 8 tracks for sale. Then there was Charlie, he acquired nice camera equipment and calculators when they first came out. Sold a shit load of cameras, film and calculators for him. Sold a load to teachers in my high school. My old man, though not Italians (but usually had choice things to say about the ones down the street), moved quite a bit of "warm" stuff.

    Maybe I just grew up poor-ish. Like Mrs Simmel says in Python's Piranha Brother skit - Kipling Road was a typical sort of Eastend street, people were in and out of each other's houses with each other's property all day. They were a cheery lot.

    Like the song says, just life on the poor side of town!

    Didn't leave a horse head in anyone's bed,,,,, but may have supplied a horse or two. That's probably a buried secret so keep it to yourself.

  • That Mike
    Joined:
    Inquiring Minds Want To Know

    Dennis - In your youth, were you running with Tony and Bobby and Paulie and the other Sopranos??

  • Dennis
    Joined:
    Things

    A little late here, had to attend a funeral. Hopefully we laid to rest the cd sequencing issue :-)

    J3ff - I smiled at your Pollyanna comment about your gang. Our gang used to yell, "Gowan home your Mudda callin".
    Really though felt bad for ya. Reminded me of a Bugs Bunny cartoon,,,, "dog pile on the rabbit, dog pile on the rabbit"
    Would have thought you said something unthinkable like "let's nail jesus to a cross", fuck, forgot we did that! brought to mind the Solomon Burke doing Fast Train,

    You had to go on the lam you stepped into no-man's land
    Ain't nobody here on your waveband
    Ain't nobody gonna give you a helping hand

    1st and banana boxes, sorry just keep my drugs in there (like Johnny Cash). Bought a box of banana once,,,, they held no appeal.

    Vguy - wall shuffle, big smile here. We talk about this one all the time at work. How can you play a sliver of the wall, let alone out of order?

    Mr 1 - Lenny Bruce? Anyone watching Mrs Maisel,,,, Lenny is there.

    Just as a way out, some funny blues lyrics.

    Enjoy

    Honey Where the money go, Honey where the money gone
    Where the money go, I been working two jobs baby
    Bring you all my dough, Now they say you got another man
    And your leave me right away
    What happened to all that cash Been keepin for a rainy day
    Well there's one thing one thing, One thing I want to know
    I don't care where the lovin went, Baby where did the money go

    Can't move round this old house For catalogs and shoppin bags
    Meanwhile they reposess The only car I ever had
    Took away my TV set And cancelled my Credit ring
    Can't find those dollar bills I been keepin in a coffee can
    Well there's one thing one thing, One thing that I want to know
    I don't care where the lovin went, Baby but Honey where did the money go

    Baby you look so good In your brand new dress
    I wondered how you paid for that Now you just let me guess
    Now you say you're movin on Headin where the livin is fine
    How come I get the feelin that It cost me my last dime
    Well there's one thing one thing, One thing I really want to know
    I don't care where the lovin went, Baby, but Honey where did the money go

  • JimInMD
    Joined:
    ah..

    Bruce (the Shark), then Quint

  • Sixtus_
    Joined:
    JAWS

    ...speaking of which, I scored tickets for Jaws in Imax 3D this weekend with two of our kids (age 8 & 6, and yes they frigging LOVE this movie...we've watched together many many times over the years). I'm really interested to see how good the film looks in 3D, cause it's gonna be even better than the days of Avatar - so they are saying. It will also be cool to see it up on the big screen, as I was too young when it came out to get that real experience.
    Quint is awesome, but Bruce takes the show.

    Please carry on with your regularly scheduled Estimated > Eyes.

    Sixtus

  • Dennis
    Joined:
    Vguy and lizards (not the lounge type)

    I had a gecko,,, I named him Art.

    Where's that from?

  • That Mike
    Joined:
    Charlie

    Charlie - That is 27 INCREDIBLE minutes of “Don’t Let Go” on the Pure Jerry release! Enjoy, my friend! (As an extra, play the 5 song bonus disc “More After Midnight” that came with the Kean College release. Jerry plays like I wish he would have on more occasions- he really turns it up, and gave his axe a workout! A gem!)

    PS - Now I’ve got that silly “Lotta Love” in my head! I do that to my wife occasionally- start purposely humming/singing some ear worm, and within minutes, I can hear her down the hall, or in the kitchen, singing it. “California Dreamin’” by the Mamas & Papas seems to be really effective, and has staying power.

  • JimInMD
    Joined:
    Loving the Movie References...

    Yes, Jaws is not the greatest movie ever.. Chinatown and The Godfather both surpass it by a longshot.. but in the summer of '75 that shark reigned supreme. Quint was the star in my eyes. He had grit. Farewell And Adieu Fair Spanish Ladies' indeed. Looking back it seems a bit tacky, they had major trouble with the special effects.. dated is perhaps the word I am looking for, but the timing was perfect. It's every bit as good a monster as Frankenstein, which reminds me.. a happy belated birthday Mary Shelley.

    Now where were we? It appears everyone is getting along grandly.. Long drive today, might have lost a car on the way.. had to crawl back in a rental. Good thing it wasn't my car, but the owner is more than a bit distraught, happened far away from home. Got in some good '74 on the drive.. and a little May '69 for good measure. Decided to offer and eat the cost of the rental. The good news is, it was late and we somehow did not get stranded. First time I ever used Uber, they don't have those where I live. Aye.. there's aways good and bad in life. Gota admit, the transition in the China Rider pulled me through. Holy cow, 1974 GD cures all.

    Farewell And Adieu Fair Spanish Ladies'. Still cracks me up, makes me want to smash a Styrofoam cup in my hands while talking like a pirate.

    Rest up Cousins.. hoping a speedy, harm-free recovery finds you.

  • Charlie3
    Joined:
    Easy Listening Earworms

    Keep getting Nicolette Larson's version of Lotta Love stuck in my head on a loop...

  • Charlie3
    Joined:
    DeadVikes

    You are the winner, it was in fact Sonny speaking to Clemenza during preparations for Michael to kill The Turk and his police captain bodyguard in the Godfather. Watched 1 and 2 in the last month, and love them both, but I would have to go with 1 as my favorite. And yes, phone replacement sucks.

    And VGuy, you get the prize for your lightning fast identification of some other names used by the Sunstroke Serenaders.

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A sealed, unlabeled box sat undisturbed for decades on a shelf in the Grateful Dead’s San Rafael tape vault on Front Street, its contents an enduring mystery, even to those few with access to the vault. All David Lemieux knew about that box when he became the Dead’s archivist was that it contained tapes belonging to Bear—Owsley Stanley, the Dead’s first soundman and architect of the Wall of Sound. Even in the Dead Heads’ Holy of Holies, the taped-up box was tantalizing. But this was Bear’s personal property, and so he didn’t touch the box out of an abiding respect for the elder luminary of sound. Bear’s archive of Sonic Journal recordings had been kept safe for him for years within the Grateful Dead’s vault—over 1,300 reels of tape stored in heavy-duty cartons like old banana boxes. At any time, David could have popped the tops and explored them to his archivist heart's content. But they were off-limits without the nod from Bear. - Starfinder Stanley, Hawk, and Pete Bell, Owsley Stanley Foundation

 

With a wink and a nod from Bear, we've peeled back those banana boxes to find some of the oldest and rarest of all recordings of the Dead including the double dose of shows that make up DAVE’S PICKS VOLUME 43. The two virtually complete performances from San Francisco 11/2/69, Live At Family Dog At The Great Highway, and from Dallas 12/26/69, McFarlin Auditorium, are complementary in their clarity and consistency thanks to Bear himself, and in their ability to foreshadow where the Dead were headed in the years to come. If the two killer 20-minute+ "Dark Stars" don't get ya, how about the Pigpen-centric sets featuring "Midnight Hour," "Next Time You See Me," "Big Boss Man," "Good Lovin'," and the once-lost-now-found complete rendition of "Dancing In The Streets," or the first full acoustic set ever performed? And we're certain you'll be fascinated to uncover the "Mystery Of Bear's Banana Boxes" as told by Starfinder Stanley, Hawk, and Pete Bell in the liners.

 

Limited to 25,000 numbered copies, DAVE’S PICKS VOLUME 43 was recorded by Owlsey "Bear" Stanley and has been mastered to HDCD specs by Jeffrey Norman at Mockingbird Mastering. Grab a copy while you can.

 

*2 per order. Very limited quantity available.

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11 years 7 months

In reply to by Oroborous

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the elation for this and for hints at what else remains in the vault.

Just what the doc ordered!

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10 years 2 months
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fans got their wish.
2 Dark Stars and plenty-o-pig.
Sounds good to me!
Cheers

Edit: Non-subscribers (Daverock?) better jump on this fast. Certainly one that will sell out in a day.
1300 Owsley reels in the vault did it say? A HUGE virtually untapped source.

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14 years
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I like Owsley's technique. That'll do, Pig.

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3 years
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just what I wanted. 2 shows from1969,. Thanks Dave, keep them comming.

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10 years
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Dave - You had us at Pig. A real nice release, and Owsley sound, too! (Blushing)

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10 years 3 months
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It took 8 years, but I finally guessed the right shows. Nevermind that I included the Boston Tea Party trio.

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10 years 8 months
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I'll take this one, thank you very much!!

Oro, you either get primal or you get Pig. I'm very pleased with this one. Did not see that coming.

Woo-hoo!

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9 years 1 month

In reply to by That Mike

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Sweet release for DaP43!

"With a wink and a nod from Bear, we've peeled back those banana boxes to find some of the oldest and rarest of all recordings of the Dead including the double dose of shows that make up DAVE’S PICKS VOLUME 43."

just want to highlight ". . . some of the oldest and rarest of all recordings of the Dead including . . ."

pray tell what other mysteries are there in the banana boxes?? to be continued.

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In reply to by bluecrow

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I think Dave was worried about a riot.. we forced his hand on this one.

I'm looking much more forward to this than the box set. No offense meant.. but this looks sweet to me.

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Beyond stoked about this DaP. There doesn't seem to be a track listing yet, but given the description (not one but TWO 20-minute-plus Dark Stars, AND plenty of Pig?) this promises to be epic. Audio quality is likely to be outstanding, given that it was recorded by Bear and evidently stored in a banana box for 50+ years.

Wonder what else is in those banana boxes? Guys, if you find any blue tablets, you should probably forward them to me for safe disposal.

The MSG box? Not sure I need 17 discs worth of '80s, so I'll probably just go for the breakout set from 3/9/81. I have to admit, this release makes me a little sad, because it makes me think that now it's going to be years, maybe longer, before they do the Berkeley Greek 1980s box some of us have been longing for. Can't see 'em doing two venue-centric '80s boxes in close succession.

And just btw: don't get Covid, if you can help it. Went on a business trip (got to go to NOLA, at least), came home and got sick. Despite being vaxed and boosted, it was sucky week. Not the end of the world, but pretty sucky. I mention this in the hope that it'll encourage others to be vaxed and be careful: that fucking virus is still out there. Be well.

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12 years 10 months
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Its so good to be wrong!!!!!! I thought for sure Dave would venture into the 80's the 60's are not the 80's. By the way I'm digging the gray hoodie, very understated.

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4 years 7 months
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I had jumped off of the subscription bandwagon almost as soon as I got on, after the disappointing DaP31. This year I reluctantly hopped on again because I liked the Baltimore show and absolutely salivated over the Winterland ‘74 with bonus disk. I was resigned to getting a throwaway ‘80s show this time around. Nope. I am virtually in tears as I type this, and best of all I have no worries of this one selling out because it’s already been ordered. It’s a beautiful day.

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I haven't browsed Deadbase yet to see if these shows are listed or the setlists, which I imagine are similar to others from the era. I also wonder if having been stored in sealed boxes all these years if they are uncirculated? That's always a nice surprise.

I'm a lifetime subscriber since the beginning. Glad to see Dave mixing it up.

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In reply to by SPACEBROTHER

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The sound on the archive is good.. assuming Latvala took a little peeksy into the banana boxes and shared. I'd still like to take partial credit for guessing Dave's 43 would be sourced using returned reels from the late 60's. I think I posted something to that effect a week or two ago.

Very glad to see these shows come to light. They seem to be very special, at least to these ears.

Enjoy people.. This one goes out to Hendrix Freak.. if there's a more enthusiastic 60's and fall 1972 person out there.. I'd like to buy her/him a drink and shake their hand.

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Jim!!

That would be me. Strong coffee will do, looking forward to the handshake...........

Did anybody think my obsession was limited to 1971?!! OMFW!!!

The dice of Zeus always fall luckily.

Rock on,

Doc
Whether we fall by ambition, blood, or lust, like diamonds we are cut with our own dust......

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12 years 10 months
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11/2 does not circulate, no set list
12/26 Circulates, Zephyr opened-acoustic set without Bill

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In reply to by wissinomingdeadhead

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not in Deadbase but SBD source of 11/2/69 is on relisten

not that i've heard it. includes a "classic suite" DS > SS > 11 > DDHNM

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In reply to by wissinomingdeadhead

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Strong Coffee I've got! Doc you are equally enthusiastic of the old stuff. Check your PM.

As for 11/2, it looks like a copy of this was seeded to the Archive back in 2004 and a more complete version appeared in 2009.. so someone had them. I'm going to head to the attic right now and see what's in all the banana boxes stashed in the corner.

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Who is the 4 fingered gal on the cover? Interesting that they did not go for a female skeleton.

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10 years 7 months
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This is great news Dave,its going to be well worth the wait, none of us are getting any younger,I'm looking forward to having this in my grubby little mitts in August.

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I'm a big fan of DaP 6 12/20/69 and 2/2/70 with 12/21/69 bonus disc with its two Dark Stars, DaP 30 1/2-3/70 with its great setlists capped off by that massive Dark Star> St Stephen> The Eleven> Lovelight, and DaP 10 12/12/69 and bonus from 12/11/69 scratches a similar itch, but I gravitate to the bonus disc for the whole Dark Star> St Stephen> The Eleven> Cumberland Blues, That's It For The Other One> Cosmic Charlie, because that's just fantastic. And now we add these two shows to that collection. Nonplussed on the box, but I reckon I'll likely get it sometime prior to release. The setlists are quite good, and only one Little Red Rooster.

Just listened to the Little Sadie and High Time in the Listening Party on my tablet speakers, and quite liked it. Jerry is in fine fettle.

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Sounds like an oxymoron to me, but who cares!! It’s primal 1969, JUST before 1970, which we ALL(well, almost all) have been clamoring for!! I simply CANNOT WAIT to unwrap this and push play!!

Thanks Dave, Music is the Best!!

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I will take a GD sbd from the '60s ANY day of the week, and the Dallas show has long been one of my favorites. I'm VERY glad that it's being released and that 11-2 show is no slouch although I've never heard it complete and never in this kind of sound quality either. I'm very happy these shows were chosen, can't wait to get my hands (and ears) on them. Thanks once again to Dave, Dick, Bear and the whole GD family.

Jeffrey Norman works for the GD and also the OSF, which has been digitizing Bear's 1300 reels. OSF is about two-thirds done with digitizing so possibly ~400 reels to go. Probably that's what Norman was doing.

Meanwhile, only weeks to go until two unique '69 shows are in our hands.

I'll have to quiet down for a while about NINETY SIXTY-EIGHT, just because Dave gave us a nice dose of late '69.

Heh heh heh... we don't need any contests here, this whole crowd is foaming at the mouth for this release. Jim, you sure know how to get folks riled up. (What the hell are "banana boxes"?)

In fact, the good doctor and I had often discussed how early, short shows shouldn't stop Dave from putting two together to meet the DaP three-disc rule. Here we are.

A good shout out to all who made the past couple months on this forum worthwhile with good discussions of literatue and music. I only have about 7-8 books to read and tall stack of CDs to listen to, as a result.

And thanks to Dave L. for an inspired choice. (I'm getting the 3-9-81 show and leaving the box alone, but sure wish I can get my hands on 3-10-81 at some point...)

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7 years 6 months
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Its about time, one worth opening.

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11 years 7 months

In reply to by TJPD2

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ask any supermarket for them, very sturdy, heavy duty cardboard, great for storage. Not entirely closed, usually an opening at top and bottom. Check recent shipments for tarantula hitchhikers. Shucks, no release listening party for the 60s bunch at Jim's bear battered beer caches?

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7 years 9 months
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Oh myyyyy! I don't post very often here, but I've been watching the discussion/speculation on DP 43 for months. I figured DP43 would be 1980s for sure (hello, box set) and in that regards I was hoping for a 1985 release. I didn't dare hope for '68-'69. I'm glad to be wrong!

I've never heard either of these shows - super excited for this release. I keep various Fall '69 rips in my car - 10/25, Dick's Picks 16, the DaP 6 Bonus Disc - so it's going to be nice to change things up. This time I even went and bought an extra copy so that I can wow somebody who will only realize what they've missed out on when they are sitting in my passenger seat. That's ~$40 well-spent. @Dave thanks buddy, this kinda drop is what keeps me subscribing year after year.

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In reply to by Obeah

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totally awesome

Daves in a (banana) box

loooooove it

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14 years 11 months
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Didn't know about the Dallas show. Double 1969 goodness - how sweet it is!

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14 years
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What I have:
Cold Rain
Midnight Hour
Seasons (this song is unknown to me, a first)
Mama Tried
Next Time You See Me
Good Lovin'
Big Boss Man
Casey Jones
Dancin'
Dark Star>St. Stephen>The Eleven>Death Don't

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I have this one archived in my cassette collection. Saw many shows at this venue. Great acoustics.

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10 years 9 months
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Just looked up the setlists for these and saw Dave for once way undersold the length of the two Dark Stars, one 30, the other 24! Nice. But how about I've Been All Around This World? Always loved it from hearing the Garcia Grisman version, so stoked to see it's on here wih Little Sadie. Such a treat to hear Jerry sing these in such a strong voice. Now to avoid listening to the whole shows for three more weeks...

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I know it makes me not a ‘head’
But no

Pig’s “white boy blues” makes wants me want to barf every time.
Hahaha i hear him open his mouth and it’s like I want to jump off a cliff

I hear somebody brag about a “half hour Lovelight” ?
Thanks, I know exactly what show to skip. 

Seriously no

ughhhh

We can all jam and no despite I hate it I’m not selling to at cost hahahah

There are people out there.

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17 years
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...deadhead but certainly a fool of high caliber. I agree with the Lovelights...sometimes, but damn take that tone and put it in the garbage where it belongs. The provenance alone of these tapes is enough to get my brain drooling and my ears lubed up.

Looks like they've reconnected the modem at the asylum. Nurse Ratchet must be on her first vacation in a few decades. 😬

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For those of you wondering why artist Matt J. Adams included her, have a look at the cover of "Live/Dead".

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…Oh Boy! 2 (two) “Primo” Primal Dead performances in one release (Pick)
“There’s Nothen left to do but Smile Smile Smile!” I’m as happy as a Pig in Mud! Lol ! 🤠
Have a grateful day my brothers and sisters.
there’s not a better feeling than having grateful fans dig’n The continuing Amazing Artworks involved year after year! Love it!
Take care folks , have a grateful day!
🙏❤️💀🌹

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